Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children

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The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is a Federal assistance program of the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for healthcare and nutrition of low-income mothers and children under the age of five. This program is unrelated to the USDA's "Food Stamp" program.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children was enacted in 1972 by Senator Humphrey (D) of Minnesota and made permanent in 1975.

USDA’s revamping of this program would provide more fruit, vegetables and whole grains to the diet while cutting back on the amount of dairy products. USDA has proposed these changes to reflect updates to the food pyramid introduced 2005. Dairy interests in Washington, D.C. both producers and manufacturers, have vowed to rally their constituencies to register displeasure during the public comment period in October 2006.[1]

In many poor areas, "WIC stores" exist that only sell food for vouchers issued by the state WIC program, and do not accept any other form of payment. These stores charge the maximum permitted under the program, charging up to 16% more than regular stores for the same food. [2]